Meet Our Educators

Leah Bader earned her Bachelor in Science from York University in Toronto, Ontario, and her Master’s degree in Biology from New York University. She is a recipient of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Grant for Clinical Research with which she conducted research in the pediatric tumor biology laboratory at Columbia University. Leah was recently recognized as one of 19 outstanding women named to Prizmah’s Rising Leaders Cohort.

Ms. Bambino received her BA from Barnard College with a major in history and a minor in sociology. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her Masters from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. After practicing law on behalf of the homeless, she taught at The Windward School, the Shefa School, and Westchester Day School.

Gilad Bargil earned his M.A. in public management and education from Bar Ilan University. Most recently, Gilad served as the head of the pre-Army academy that he established in Lod. He has also lectured about leadership, society, and citizenship.

Mr. Yossi Ben-Harush received his BA and MA from The Hebrew University with a major in Jewish Thought and Philosophy. Currently pursuing a PhD in Jewish thought and history from Ben Gurion University. Yossi previously taught Talmud, Halakha and Jewish Thought in Hartman High School for Boys in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Kenneth Birnbaum is the Music Department Chair and the Ninth Grade GLC (Grade Level Coordinator) at SAR High School. He holds a B.A. in music education from Queens College, an M.A. in music education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and semikha from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.

Rabbi Akiva Block received a B.A. in Jewish Studies, completed a M.A. in Medieval Jewish History at Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University, and earned his semikha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. Rabbi Block is a graduate of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon at RIETS, and serves as the Rabbi at Kehillat Kesher, the community synagogue of Tenafly and Englewood.

Ms. Russi Bohm is the SAR High School nurse. She received her B.S. in Nursing from Hunter Bellevue School of Nursing. This is her 15th year at SAR High School, where she also serves as the co- coordinator for the Communities that Care Initiative for Machon Siach at SAR High School.

Ms. Aviva Bukiet teaches math at SAR High School. Previously, she taught at Heschel High School and before that in the New York City public schools. She received her BS from New York University and MA from Touro College, both in Math Education.

Michael Courtney has been a member of the College Counseling team since 2007. He also leads the school’s Senior Exploration project and coaches the JV Boys Basketball and Varsity Softball teams. He co-chairs the school’s and yeshiva high school Guiding Good Choices.

Rabbi Drelich earned rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, a Master’s Degree in education from Adelphi University, and certification in educational leadership from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He served as Associate Principal of the Moriah School in Englewood and was Dean of Students at SAR Middle School for 24 years. He received his doctorate in education from YU's Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and is presently teaching at SAR High School.

Ms. Nancy Edelman teaches English at SAR High School. She has had a long career in Jewish education, the bulk of it spent as an English and art history teacher as well as curriculum director at TABC.Before coming to SAR, she was the founding head of humanities at the Idea School. She was the recipient of the 2015 Teaneck Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year award and experienced 30 minutes of national fame as a Jeopardy contestant in 2021. Ms. Edelman received her BA in English at UCLA, and her MA in the Teaching of English at Teachers College, Columbia University.

​​Dr. Qiao Feng received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Peking University, Beijing, China. He went to graduate school at Columbia University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. During his graduate studies, Dr. Feng did neuroscience research and worked as a teaching assistant for an undergraduate neuroscience course.

Mr. Ben Zion Ferziger teaches history at SAR High School.

Mr. Simon Fleischer joined the SAR staff in 2004 and serves as the Co-Chair of the English Department. He received his B.A. from Columbia University and has his M.A. and M.Phil in English Literature from Fordham University. His work with Machon Siach has involved research into sex education in Yeshiva High Schools, and he serves as faculty for a variety of adult education classes.

Alicia Germano received her B.S. in chemistry and her M.A. in teaching from the University of Pittsburgh. She was a science teacher, grade level coordinator and department chair at SAR High School before moving on to a new school in 2023

Dr. Hillel Gruenberg received a PhD in History and Jewish Studies from NYU in 2014, and a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Law at Binghamton University in 2006, and also spent a year of graduate studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Before coming to SAR, Hillel spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and four years as the Director of Israel Engagement at JTS and Hebrew Union College.

Rabbi Hain is Rosh Beit Midrash at SAR HS and Rabbi of YIOZ of North Riverdale/Yonkers. He recently served as the Daniel Jeremy Silver Fellow and as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University’s Center for Jewish Studies.

Rabbi Zev Hait teaches Judaic studies at SAR Academy. Outside of the classroom Zev has served on the administration at Camp Moshava, he co-founded “BAbayit” -- a young professionals community on the Upper West Side, and he co-founded and directed the Machon Siach Graduate Fellowship at SAR High School. Zev has a B.A. from Brandeis University and received rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University as a Wexner Graduate Fellow/Davidson Scholar.

Rabbi Harcsztark is the Founding Principal of SAR High School and Dean of Machon Siach. He is the recipient of the 2017 Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.

Rabbi Helfgot is chair of the Department of Torah SheBaal Peh at SAR High School, serves as Rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, and is an adjunct faculty member at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. He taught for many years at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education as well as serving on the faculty of the Wexner Heritage Program.

Dr. Jacobowitz is the chair of the Tanakh Department at SAR High School and is the founding director of Makom B'Siach at SAR.

Ms. Jaffe studied Psychology at Boston University. After graduating, she worked at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and then at the JCC in Manhattan. She holds a Masters in Childhood and Adolescent Special Education from Hunter College and is certified in both general and special education. Before joining SAR's faculty, Ms. Jaffe was a middle school teacher at the Churchill School and Center.

​​Lee Joffe is SAR High School’s Athletic Director. He received his BA from Wilmington University with a major in Sports Management and played Division II Basketball at the University of New Haven. He has coached for the Maccabi Games since 2012, including for the Maccabi USA Basketball team, which took home the Gold. He lives in Westchester with his wife and two young sons.

Caryn Keller received her BA in History from Stern College for Women; her MA in the teaching of Social Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University; and her EdD in Jewish Education from the Azrieli School at Yeshiva University. She previously taught at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School.

Ms. Chana Krasnjanski received her BA in English from Brooklyn College and an MA in English from Brooklyn College with a concentration in Education. She has taught at Bais Rivkah of Crown Heights, Yeshiva of Flatbush, and the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School.

Alon Krausz Received a B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters degree in Math Education from NYU. Mr. Krausz has been in the SAR family since September 2002, starting in the Academy before moving to the High School. Prior to that, he taught math and economics at the Solomon Schechter High School of NY for five years. Alon is also the founder of the Jewish Outdoors Club and enjoys sharing the beauty and thrills of the great outdoors with his students.

Rabbi Jonathan Kroll, a founding staff member at SAR High School, returned in 2019 as principal after six years as Head of School at Katz Yeshiva High School of South Florida. He received his B.A. from Yeshiva College, his semikha from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, and an M.A. in secondary education from the Azrieli Graduate School.

Assaf Kugler is a Hebrew teacher at SAR high school and an author.

Ms. Daniela Lehmann received her B.A. from Stern College, with a double major in Judaic Studies and in English Literature. She completed the dual M.A. program at New York University in Education and Jewish Studies and Hebrew and Judaic Studies. Previously, Daniela worked for two years as a Judaic Studies assistant teacher at SAR Academy.

Rabbi Lindenbaum teaches Jewish Studies and works in Israel Guidance at SAR High School. He graduated from Yeshiva University with a degree in History and received his semikha from Rav Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg of Jerusalem. He earned certification from the Jewish New Teacher Project and participated in the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators' inaugural Aleinu L'Shabeach conference focusing on Tefillah education as well as Mechon Hadar's JJGI Fellowship for Rabbis and Senior Educators.

Sarah Medved teaches English at SAR High School and holds an M.A. in Educational Theatre and English from NYU Steinhardt, with New York State certifications in Theater (K-12) and English (7-12). She also earned an M.A. in Jewish Philosophy from Bernard Revel Graduate School and a B.A. in English Literature from Stern College. Additionally, she is the co-founder and director of Open Tent Theater Company in uptown Manhattan.

Ms. Elianna Mitnick, a Judaic Studies Teacher and an Israel Guidance Advisor at SAR High School, is currently a doctoral student at JTS. She graduated from the honors program at Stern College for Women where she received her BA and went on to receive master degrees from both the Revel and Azrieli graduate programs of Yeshiva University.

Dr. Schwartz serves as Associate Principal, General Studies at SAR High School, and as a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She earned her Ph.D. in the history of science from Princeton University.

Rabbi Adin Rayman received a B.A. in English Literature from Yeshiva University after a year of study at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel. He is completing his ordination at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary as well as an M.A. in Medieval Jewish History at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies

Chaya Rayman (nee Kanarfogel) lives in Riverdale where she teaches TSBP and is Director of the Women’s Israel Guidance Department. She and her husband Adin will be making Aliyah this summer, where she will be teaching Gemara and Halacha at Midreshet Harova as well as serving as a Mashgicha Ruchanit.

Ms. Denise Zami Samstein received her BA in Jewish Education from Stern College, where she was a Legacy Heritage Scholar. She received her MA in Bible Studies from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. Denise started at SAR as a Beit midrash fellow in 2015 and has been teaching Tanakh there ever since. She also serves as a JNTP Mentor for new teachers.

Rabbanit Lisa Schlaff is the Director of Judaic Studies at SAR High School. She received an MA in curriculum development from Teachers College, Columbia University, completed coursework and exams towards a PhD in rabbinic literature at NYU, and is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat. Rabbanit Schlaff has taught Gemara and Tanakh at the Drisha Institute and is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program.

Ms. Zehava Seidman-Wernick is Director of Chesed, Asst. Director of Student Activities, Judaic Studies Teacher at SAR High School. She holds a BA and MA from Yeshiva University and is a member of the Legacy Heritage Scholars Cohort for Jewish Education.

Matthew Sheinberg received his BA in History from the University of Houston and holds MAs in Secondary Math Education from City College and Jewish History from JTS. Mr. Sheinberg comes to SAR High School after years of teaching in the NYC Public Schools and managing technology in the retail industry.

Adina Shoulson chairs the SAR High School History Department. Adina received her B.A. from Columbia University and earned her MA in the NYU Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies.

Ms. Ariella Simpson chairs the SAR High School Math Department faculty. She received her B.A. in Mathematics from Stern College, Yeshiva University and a Master's degree from Columbia University, Teacher's College in Math Education.

Dr. Gillian Steinberg teaches in the English Department at SAR High School and co-directs SAR's Professional Development program. She is the creator of teachingwritingbetter.com.

Ms. Shuli Taubes is the chair of the Machshevet Yisrael department and teaches Tanakh, Comparative Religion, Jewish Identity and Health at SAR High School. Shuli received her Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Harvard Divinity School and her BA in history from Barnard College.

Zissy Turner serves on the Judaic Studies faculty at S.A.R High School in Riverdale, NY, teaching Tanakh and Gemara. She is 9th Grade Student Dean, and directs the Machon Siach Graduate Fellowship, a project of SAR High School’s research institute. Zissy is certified as a Yoetzet Halakha through Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center. She is a graduate of Yeshiva University’s Graduate Program in Advanced Talmud Study (GPATS), where she was a Wexner Graduate Fellow/Davidson Scholar. Zissy is currently learning advanced halakha in Ohr Torah Stone’s International Halakha Scholars Program. She has taught in diverse communities across the United States and Great Britain, sharing her love for Torah and Mitzvot with Jews in all stages of life. She lives in Riverdale, NY with her husband and daughter.

Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Wadler received his BA from Yeshiva College, his MA in Bible from the Bernard Revel Graduate School, and semikhah from RIETS. He has a PhD in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. Shlomo taught Tanakh and Hebrew at Yeshiva University as well as at the University of Notre Dame before joining the SAR faculty.

Merav Zuriel studied at Yad Ben Zvi Institute and received her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama. Ms. Zuriel received her B.A. and B.Ed. from Orot Israel College. She taught literature and history at Yeshiva Elkhanah for more than ten years before joining SAR High School.